1999 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve port

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:44 pm

This is a South African (SA) fortified wine (port) that is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca from the Calitzdorp region. It was matured for 2 years in Portugese oak barrels prior to being bottled unfiltered.

I have been sipping on this for about 6 hours now (after decanting) and it has evolved quite nicely. A very dark purple, that has gotten thicker as time as past. A decent made wine that is very simillar to a top quality Traditional LBV. Not to complex or flashy, but very satisfying in it's own right. A touch of tannins help round out a moderate finish. This is not one for long term aging, but is one I'd recommend for drinking now or in the near future.

Overall, this is a very good SA fortified wine and one I'd buy again.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:59 am

Andy,

Interesting note. I had a Boplaas 2002 recently (note will follow in due course) and I was quite impressed with it as it struck me to be just like a young VP.

Alex

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:46 am

This imposter should be on the "Other Discussions" board

Derek

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:53 am

Alex,

The only thing this one was lacking was some fruit backbone. If that would have been there I would agree with you on being similar to a VP. Maybe 1999 was not a super good year in SA. Or, maybe it was just in that dumb phase and was shut down. I have about 1/2 bottle left so I will try it again when I get home from work tonight and see if it has changed.

And I must say the best job at trying to duplicate a true VP that I have seen. Way better than any California or Aussie "port" that I have had.

Derek,
Try this one blind and you will not think it's an imposter, an outstanding job at duplicating the real thing.

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:00 am

Andy,

An imposter is an imposter regardless of how good it is at pretending to be the real thing - the bottom line is, this isn't Port

Derek

PS: I shared the Boplaas 2002 with Alex

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:25 pm

And he was just as biased then as he is now

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:29 pm

Alex,...Give this to him blind and he would love it :twisted:

I am almost finished with the last 1/2 bottle of it. Not much change, which leads me to think it was a slightly off year, but still a very good bottle. I also had a cheap SA tawny that Roy recommended to me earlier this year that was outstanding. I must say they are doing good things in SA

Maybe I should bring a bottle on the trip and sneak it into the tastings, just to get him :twisted: (Derek, just kidding of course)

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:53 pm

I wouldn't care if it scored 10-10, 5* or 100 points - it is not Port and therefore has no place on the Port Forum

Derek

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:32 pm

Now there I disagree - the South African version is port, just not Port.

And its difficult to know whether this is a port forum, or a Port forum since the website is called "For The Love Of PORT."

Do you follow?

:help:

Perhaps it would be clearer if we persuaded Roy to start up another website called "For The Love Of (South African) port"

John Conwell · Post by **John Conwell** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:38 am

Not to be picky, but from how I understand it, only vineyards in Portugal can use the term porto or oporto, but any vineyard in the world can use the term port. So, since this is the "Port Forum" and not the “Oporto Forum”, its perfectly legal to write about SA ports.

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:50 am

Alex and Andy,

I would like to draw your attention to previous comments from all three of us on this very subject in the first 4 postings of the attached thread.

http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... uth+africa

It seems to me that 2 out of 3 of us are being rather inconsistent in our views

Derek

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:17 am

I am being very consistant...here is my quote from that

"Ports" from other countries can be listed in the Port Forum or the Other Discussion area.

Here is Roy's quote

I would urge folks to put their TNs into the Port Forum regardless of whether you believe these are just imposters or are worthy of posting in that space.

I think Roy's quote settles the matter

Its fun busting Derek's chops

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:34 am

Andy,

OK, I must confess my memory must be fading - I went on the hunt for a quote from Roy stating that imposters must go on the Other Discussions. When this thread turned up in my search I realised my position was blown out of the water by Roy but thought I would have a go at pointing out that you, and especially Alex, had at least conceded the "imposter" status of these dispicable wines (lovely though they are to drink

).

I happily concede that the argument is lost, even though I still think I'm right

In honour of your glorious victory in this debate I will buy you a glass of port at one of those free tastings in the Douro in a couple of weeks time

Derek

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:40 am

Derek Turnbull wrote:Andy,

In honour of your glorious victory in this debate I will buy you a glass of port at one of those free tastings in the Douro in a couple of weeks time

Derek

Derek, you are to kind. And likewise, I too shall buy you a drink at the same time

BTW, I do conceded they are imposters, but the SA ones are VERY GOOD imposters.